Means for assembling books of variable compass



R. HEPP April 28, 1964 MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING BOOKS OF VARIABLE COMPASS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1959 jnverlzan' W V. 4 H e wa o 7 i0 WW W yM/ April 28, 1964 R. HEPP 3,130,966

MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING BOOKS OF VARIABLE COMPASS Filed July 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor:

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Q a a l. 3% Q m L m m m Q k w M & vs EN Taxi 2 jm/emon' Mum 6/ H am United States Patent 3,130,966 MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING BUGKS OF VARIABLE COMPASS Rudolf Hepp, Sybeistr. 53, Berlin- Chariottenburg, Germany Filed July 21, N59, Ser. No. 828,476 Clmms priority, application Germany Aug. 29, 1958 8 Claims. (Cl. 27tl54) There are known devices for assembling books, in which the signatures are placed by hand on a conveyor means whereby they are fed to a stitching machine or other bookbinding machinery. There are also devices wherein the signature is placed on such a conveyor means by an automatic depositor. In that case, however, an additional arrangement is needed between books, in correspondence to a complete sequence of signatures, to indicate to the stitching machine when a book has been completely assembled and another book is to begin.

The size of the books varies according to the intended compass of the finished volume. In a book manufacturing plant, it must be adjustable from about three to about sixty signatures, this being the approximate range for finished books.

It is known that when a depositing device is used, the requ red compass of a book may be maintained by means of variable gearing, cams and the like mechanical accessories. The disdavantage of such known arrangements lies not only in the complexity of the mechanisms and the time required to change and adjust the mechanical parts, but also in that such known devices atford no possibility of preselecting a variable program whereby, in addition to the compass of the book, the various modes of binding can be controlled from a central station, where this control center should moreover be independent in location from the location of the stitching machine.

This is the problem of the invention.

The invention is based on an electrical system, essentially employing relay circuits as storage elements. These permit preselection of a desired cycle corresponding to the book to be produced. This cycle, which may preferably contain a pulse from a cam plate in the main drive to advance the relay circuits as each signature passes through, is employed to initiate any required further operations, such as gluing, lining, interposition of a blind stitch, cutting of threads between books, or the like.

The sequence of a particular cycle of ditferent operations is thus based on a program. This program must be variable, inasmuch as the manufacture of books varies, not only as to compass, or specific number of sections required for a book, but also as to manner of binding the book, as with or without lining, with or without gluing of the backs of various sections, and so on.

For such a program, determined by the cycle or nature of the book to be manufactured, or in other words according to the number of its signatures and the manner of its binding, which govern the operations in detail, a relay circuit will be developed in the example below, the arrangement being such that associated circuit elements initiate the several operations of the program.

Alternatively, however, the program may be subdivided so as to employ several relay circuits, independently of each other or not. Thus for example each operation may have a relay circuit of its own, variable in time of commencement of its contents and likewise variable in scope of its particular cycle.

With such a system, a program can be established with a plurality of unit storage and control operations, which may be independent of each other as to their respective commencement and termination, and thus embrace all desired possible variations, such program being controlled from a station which in turn is not restricted in location relative to the machinery, and may consequently be accommodated in a control center for a plurality of stitching machines and the like.

Again, monitoring devices such as feeler contacts, signal lights, photoelectric cells or the like may be provided in addition, to respond when there is interference with the proper flow of signatures. Examples of such a condition are omission of a signature, oblique displacement of signatures in transit, or the like. Release of mechani cal impulses by these control devices may be so arranged with the aid of circuit elements that they will act instantaneously, or alternatively so that they will not act until a certain preassigned stage of the cycle in progress has been reached.

The device according to the invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it should be understood that these are given by way of illustration and not of limitation and that many changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a depositor for placing signatures on the conveyor of a stitching machine;

FIG. 2 shows a mechanical combination of a depositor with a stitching machine;

FIG. 3 shows an electrical circuit diagram of the same.

Referring to FIG. 1, 20 is an example of a mechanical depositor on which a stack of sections 1 is placed against guides 6 and 7. This depositor substantially comprises a revolving set of rolls turning upon shaft 5 and driven by a sprocket wheel, not shown, mounted on shaft 5, and chain drive 9. The set of rolls has two side discs 2 supporting three suction cylinders 4, a plurality of supporting rollers 3, and three pivots with ejectors 10. The directions of rotation of the shafts are indicated, a chain drive not shown being provided to cause each of the suction rollers 4 to execute three revolutions to one of shaft 5. In the course of rotation of side discs 2 and opposed rotation of supporting rollers 3 and suction cylinders 4, the latter draw the sections out from under stack 1 by the spline and convey them around to the gripping means 8, which grasps and holds the spine of a section until it has passed between supporting rollers 3 and brush sector 11. Then the gripping means 8 opens so that the extended ejector 10 will guide the section, as side discs 2 continue to revolve, past stripper 12 and between feed rollers 13 and 14. These rollers 13 and 14 are equipped with suction means to pull the section open on the side away from the spine so that it will drop straddling the rails 15. Between these rails 15, there is a conveyor chain 16 along which lugs 17 are distributed.

' This depositor, which may be hinged so as to swing out of the way when sections are to be placed on the conveyor 16 by hand, into the position indicated by dot-dashed lines in FIG. 1, is provided with an electromagnetic shut-off valve 18 for the suction cylinders 4. If this valve is shut off at a predetermined rotation of the main drive shaft 25 at the base of the unit, suction is cut off and no section will be taken from the stack in that revolution of suction cylinder 4. This arrangement is required to allow a revolution of the machine between books without feeding a section. In various types of bookbinding machines, this interval of one revolution, or blank is utilized to detach the finished books from each other to identify them for subsequent detachment. According to the invention, the blank is further utilized for programming the corresponding sequence of operations in a manner adapted to the job being done. In this con nection, a signal light 19 may be provided as a visual indication of the blank cycle in a given position relative to the entire equipment.

Further, the shut-off means 18 may simultaneously serve to actuate a device, not shown, whereby the stack of sections 1 is supported with fingers or the like so that it will remain in an inoperative position during the blank revolution or a portion thereof.

FIG. 2 shows a depositor 20 coordinated with a stitching machine 21 equipped with rails to receive sections 22 and a conveyor chain 16 with lugs 17 to convey the section 22 from the depositor 20 to the gluer 23 of the stitching machine.

The main drive of the stitching machine 21 actuates the main shaft of depositor 20 by way of a coupling shaft 24, each revolution of shaft 25 causing the depositor to deposit one section on conveyor chain 16. At the same time the conveyor chain 16 with lugs 17 advances one step in the direction indicated by the arrow, accepting one section at a time as it passes under depositor 20, to be conveyed to the gluer 23 and then delivered to the mechanism of stitching machine 21. The result is a known process of continuous deposition of sections on conveyor chain 16, together with the: feeding of the deposited sections to processing machinery such as stitching or binding machines and the like.

According to the invention, drive shaft 25 bears cams 26, 27 and 28 which, through cooperating circuit elements 29, 3t) and 31, release current pulses for transmission to an electrical system by means of which the continuous operation of the entire plant as above described is interrupted or otherwise adapted to the job in hand according to the program. Cam 26 with circuit element 29 is provided to send a storage pulse to the relay circuits of the electrical system at each revolution of the machine. Cam 27 with associated circuit element 39, in this example, transmits the impulse for the blank cycle to the depositor 20, by shutting off the electromagnetic valve 18 to cut off suction as cylinder 4 passes under stack 1. The angular position of cam 27 on shaft 25 and the effective length of its track determine the commencement and time of operation of shut-off valve 18. Cam 28 with circuit element 31 has been provided in this instance for likewise electromagnetic determination of the commencement and duration of operation of the gluer 23. The electrical system for control of shut-off valve 18 as well as that of the gluer 23, that is, the release of current pulses to actuate these devices in the course of a book cycle, will be described later.

FIG. 2 likewise shows a dotted outline 32 corresponding to a section that was omitted through closure of valve 18, in order to leave a clear space on the conveyor chain between the last section of one book and the first section of the next.

Further, FIG. 2 shows a monitoring device 33 which transmits an electrical impulse to the electrical system when a section is missing through error. This is intended to stop the entire system so that the missing section may be supplied by hand.

For the electrical system, let the problem to be solved in the present example be as follows:

Selectability of number of sections according to the book being produced (book cycle) by setting a means such as a rotary switch, preferably in conjunction with visual aids such as numbered dials;

Also, selectability of gluing on the back of the book, namely in the case of the second section and the last section of each book;

Also, stoppage of entire system in event of omission of a section through error, with indicator showing what section should be replaced; and stoppage of entire system in event of power trouble or the like.

The adjustment of the desired number of sections is variable in this example from three sections to fifty-nine sections per book. It is made by rotating a units selector switch and a tens selector switch, each with numbered scale, on the switchboard of the electrical system, hereinafter referred to as the preselection control. The selected number of sections, otherwise known as the number of sheets, can thus be read off and observed at all times on the associated dials.

As soon as the entire system is in operation, the preselection control receives a current pulse from cam 26 via circuit element 29 at each revolution of shaft 25, or machine revolution, which pulse here acts as a counter pulse and is received by units and tens relay counter circuits. When the preselected number of sheets has been reached, the counter circuits go back to initial position, while at the same time the electromagnetic valve 18 is actuated via cam 27 to cut off suction from cylinder 4 for part of a revolution, so that the sheet at the bottom of stack 1 is not removed on that occasion, providing the blank revolution previously described. With the next counter pulse, a new cycle begins, and at the same time pulses are stored in the relay circuits for the next book.

The additional gluing of the back of the book, in the present example on the spine of the second and last sheet of each book, by means of a gluing device 23, may be programmed as required on the switchboard of the preselection control, with the aid of a circuit element there provided for the purpose. In accordance with the cycle determined by the preselection control, the gluer 23, which is actuated electromagnetically, receives an operatmg signal in the form of a current pulse controlled by cam 28 whenever a sheet to be glued passes along it, and it then becomes operative during a portion of a machine revolution.

A feeler contact 33 is to stop the entire system when a sheet is missing through error. To ascertain which sheet among the series of unlike sections should be replaced when the system has come to a stop, a counter dial is provided on the switchboard of the preselection control, recommencing with the number 1 at the beginning of each cycle. The numeral shown by this dial indicates which sheet should be supplied by hand on conveyor chain 16 so that the book in process of assembly will be complete.

Such stoppage of the plant may be further reported by means of a control signal light on the switchboard. An electrical lock is desirable, such that the plant cannot be restarted until this signal light has been switched off on the switchboard.

However, since the blank revolution will leave an empty space on the conveyor 16 at 32 between cycles, the feeler contact 33 should be so circuited in the preselection control that the entire system will continue to operate without interruption when this blank space 32 passes contact 3 3.

It is desirable to provide a pushbutton on the switchboard of the preselection control so that the relay circuits and counter dials can be advanced manually, independently and separately from the system as a whole. This is useful when it is desired to shift or advance the preselection control relative to the machinery as a whole until the initial position of the cycle is reached, or until signal light 19 goes on.

FIG. 3 illustrates the circuits of the preselection conml for the present example, the following listed relay and cam contacts being designated thus:

Relays A, B Advance relays of units counter circuit. Relays C, D Advance relays of tens counter circuit.

Relays E1 to E- Relays of units circuit. Relays E5 to E8 Relays of tens circuit. Counter magnet Z restoring magnet RM--- Counter to indicate signature numbers. Relay AN Relay to connect circuit for gluing control. Relays X, Y Relays of circuit for gluing control. Relay M2 Relay to emit control pulses for gluing. Relays Stl Power relay to switch on gluing magnet 23. Relay KA Relay for reactuating sheet monitoring contact 33 after blank revolution. Relay SP Relay to shut oif gluing control after first transit of units counter circuit. Relay M1 Relay to emit control pulse for valve magnet 18 (blank revolution). Relay Stl Relay to switch on valve magnet 18. Relay UE Relay to receive report of missing sheet from sheet monitoring contact 33. Relay AB Power relay to switch on coupling magnet to stop sheet feed in case of missing sheet or line failure in control system.

Contact BK Test contact on stitching machine to monitor sheet feed 33 (sheet monitoring contact).

Contact NR1"- Cam contact 29 on drive shaft of depositor to emit counter pulse for each signature.

Contact NK2 Cam contact 31 on drive shaft of depositor to locate control pulses for gluing 23 (NK2 must be actuated before NKl reopens).

Cam contact 39 on drive shaft of depositor to locate control pulses for valve magnet 13 (NK3 must be actuated before NR1 reopens).

(b) Setting of Preselection Control Using the two rotary switches ZVW (tens preselector switch) and EVW (units preselector switch) on the switchboard (designated by SchT at the top of FIG. 3), the desired number of sheets is selected (by way of example, a book of fourteen sheets has been taken in the description below). Switch Sz determines the tens digit (example: l) and switch Se the units digit (example: 4).

(0) Starting 0] Control When the current is switched on, stop relay AB responds:

Contact NK3 minusAB-94ueplus (d) Counting 0 First counter pulse via cam contact NKI; relay A and counter magnet Z actuated:

Relay E1 of units circuit responds: (3) minus-E1(I)-9le585a84mlplus End of first pulse; relay B responds, relay A holds: (4) minus4bA-B (1) 2m l-laplus Second pulse; relay A short-circuited, counter magnet Z actuated, relay B holds until end of second pulse:

minus- NK1plus minus N K lplus Relay E3 of units circuit responds; relay E1 holds via winding I, relay E2 via winding II:

End of third pulse; relay B responds, relay A holds: See circuit (4).

Relay AN responds and connects circuit for gluing control: (9) minus-AN-46an-47sp35e3-29e528b-plus Relay AN holds via: 7

(e) First Gluing Pulse The first gluing pulse serves to initiate gluing of the last sheet of the preceding book. Since there is a time difference of three cycles between picking up of the last sheet on the depositor and its arrival at the gluer of the stitching machine, the gluing pulse is not emitted until after the third counter pulse reckoned from commencement of the count. 7

Relay X of circuit for gluing control responds:

( 1 1 minus-X (l 72y-7 la73anplus Via cam contact NK3 on drive shaft of depositor, relay M2 responds: (12) minus-MZ-S5an52y-49xWT2reference numeral I-NK3-plus Power relay St2, disconnectable by switch S3 when gluing control is not required, is actuated:

( 10) minusAN-46an -plus (13) minus-StZ-l01m2-102ue-reference numeral S3-plus Via contact 98st2, gluing magnet LM of stitching machine is switched on.

After opening of cam contact NK3, relays M2 and S12 drop olf again. The length of the gluing pulse is accord ingly determined by the conformation of the cam pertaining to NK3.

(f) Disconnection of Sheet Monitoring Contact BK During the blank revolution for separating two successive books, the sheet monitoring contact BK on the stitching machine must be switched off, since owing to the blank revolution, no sheet is present at the monitoring contact during the corresponding cycle. The blank revolution is produced by actuation of the valve magnet VM, shutting of? suction from the depositor for one cycle. However, the gap in the sequence of sheets due to the blank revolution does not'reach the sheet monitoring contact until four cycles later.

Contact 105cm, accordingly, after the third counter pulse, opens the response circuit for the UE relay (see circuit (38)), not closing it again until after the fourth counter pulse, by contact 104ka.

(g) Clearing of Sheet Counter In view of the location of the blank revolution relative to the sheet monitoring contact as described above, the

counter is set back to zero after the third counter pulse by the restoring magnet RM:

7 minus-RM-Wi2-44m247sp35e329e528bplus (l2) Continuation of Count Fourth pulse; relay A short-circuited, counter magnet Z actuated; relay B holds until end of fourth pulse: See circuit Relay E4 of units circuit responds, relay E3 holds via winding II:

E3(H)78e2 EMI) Relays E1 and E2 hold via circuit (6). Relay Y of circuit for gluing control responds, relay X holds via winding 11:

X I I Y(I To reactuate the sheet monitoring contact, relay KA is energized:

(17 minus-KA-54an-5 3 ka-S 1 b-52y-49x-WTZ-- reference numeral I-NKS-plus Relay KA holds via:

( 1 8 minus-KA-S 4an-5 3 ka-plus Fifth pulse; relay A and counter magnet Z are actuated: See circuit 2.

Relay E5 of units circuit responds, relay E4 holds via winding 11:

Relay E1 holds via:

(20) rninus-E1(l)93 e l-85a-84m1-plus Relays E2 and E3 hold via circuit (7). Relay X drops elf, contact 72y being shifted to circuit (11).

Relay Y holds via:

(21 minus-Y(lI)72y-7 1a-73 an-plus Relay B responds at the end of the fifth pulse, relay A holds: See circuit (4).

Sixth pulse; relay A short-circuited, counter magnet Z actuated; relay B holds until end of sixth pulse: See circuit (5).

Relay E1 drops off, contact 83e5 in circuit (6) being opened.

Relay E5 holds via:

(22) minusE5(II)74e575e485a84mlplus Relay Y drops off, contact 69x in circuit (16) being open.

(1') Second Gluing Pulse (Gluing of Second Sheet in Current Book) Relay M2 responds:

(23) minusM2-55an52y49x48ka-SzZ-junction 1- NK3-plus Relay St2 responds via circuit (13). actuated via contact 98st2.

Relay AN switched off by breaking of circuit and then relay KA by breaking of circuit (18).

Relay M2 holds, until cam contact NK3 opens, via:

(24) minus-MZ-S6m2WT2*junction 1-NK3-plus (k) Continuation of Count Gluing magnet Seventh pulse; relay A and counter magnet Z actuated: See circuit (2).

Relay E2 drops off, contact 92e1 in circuit (7) being opened.

Relay E3 holds via:

(25) minus-E 3 (I )89e385a84m 1-plus Relays E4 and E5 hold via circuit (19). Relay B responds at end of seventh pulse, relay A holds: See circuit (4).

Eighth pulse; relay A short-circuited, counter magnet Z actuated; relay B holds until end of eighth pulse: See circuit (5).

Relay E3 drops oil, contact 73:22 in circuit (15) being opened.

Relay E4 holds via:

Relay E5 holds via circuit (23).

Ninth pulse; relay A and counter magnet Z actuated: See circuit (2).

Relay E4 drops off, contact 88e3 in circuit (19) being opened.

Relay E5 holds via:

(27) minus-E5 (I) 86e585a-84m l-plus Relay B responds at the end of the ninth pulse, relay A holds: See circuit (4).

(1) Connecting of Relay SF The function of relay SP is to connect the advance relays C, D of the tens circuit after the first round of the units circuit, and at the same time to keep relay AN (see circuit (9)) from responding, so that the circuit for glue control will not be reactuated by further counter pulses until the full number of sheets has been reached.

Relay SP pulls up after every ninth pulse in the first round of the units circuit:

Relay E6 actuated via:

(31) minus-E6 (Z)68e863c62m1plus Eleventh pulse; relay A and counter magnet Z actuated: See circuit (2).

Relay I of units circuit responds: See circuit (3).

Relay B responds at the end of the eleventh pulse, relay A holds: See circuit (4).

Relay D responds, relay C holds via:

Twelfth to fifteenth pulse: See circuits (5) to (8), (15), (19) and (20).

(n) Blank Revolution and Clearing of Counter System After the fifteenth pulse, the blank revolution ensues, in the case of the 14-signature book taken as example.

Relay M1 responds:

Relay M1 holds via:

( minusMl5sp6ml-plus Relay Stl is actuated via:

( minus-St1-108m1-plus The valve magnet is switched on to provide the blank revolution:

Relay Stl holds via cam contact NKZ (corresponding cam determines length of pulse):

At the end of counter pulse (NKi), relay UE holds via:

(39) minus-UE-103ue-reference numeral LKL-LT- plus minus-valve magnet-95st1-94ue-plus Signal light KL on switchboard goes on.

Contact 94ue breaks circuit (1) for relay AB. Relay AB drops oif, energizing coupling magnet via power contact 99ab and thus stopping sheet feed. When the missing sheet has been supplied, after shutting oif the UE relay by operating the cancellation key LT in circuit (39), the machine can be started again. Lamp KL goes out, relay AB responds again via circuit (1), and switches oil the coupling magnet.

What I claim is:

1. A control system for a machine having sheet-engaging means for delivering consecutive sections of sheet material from a stack thereof to a binder, comprising conveyor means positioned to receive a series of said sections from said sheet-engaging means, drive means for advancing said conveyor means to said binder, counting means synchronized with said drive means for registering the number of sections passing a predetermined location along said conveyor means, and mechanism responsive to said counting means for modifying the operation of said machine upon the count of said sections reaching a predetermined value, said mechanism including deactivating means for said sheet-engaging means effective during an interval substantially corresponding to the time of movement of a section past said location whereby a blank cycle is created in the operation of said counting means.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising feeler means at said location for detecting a gap between sections in said series, alarm means controlled by said feeier means for arresting said machine in response to said gap, and blocking means controlled by said counting means for preventing deactivation of said machine by said feeler means during said blank cycle.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said counting means includes delay means for rendering said blocking means effective a predetermined period after deactivation of said sheet-engaging means, said period corresponding to the length of time required for a section to travel from said stack to said location.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said sheetengaging means includes a suction device connected to a source of reduced pressure, said deactivating means including valve means for disconnecting said device from said source.

5. A system according to claim. 1, further comprising monitoring means coupled with said counting means for indicating said count to an observer.

6. A control system for a machine having sheet-engaging means for delivering consecutive sections of sheet material from a stack thereof to a binder, comprising conveyor means positioned to receive a series of said sections from said sheet engaging means, drive means for advancing said conveyor means to said binder, counting means synchronized with said drive means for registering the number of sections passing a predetermined location along said conveyor means, and mechanism responsive to said counting means for modifying the operation of said machine upon the count of said sections reaching a predetermined Value, said counting means including pulsegenerating means coupled with said drive means and a set of relays sequentially operable in response to the output of said pulse-generating means.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft, said pulse-generating means in cluding cam means on said shaft and contact means positioned for actuation by said cam means.

8. A machine for serially producing books of variable compass composed of difierent numbers of sheet sections, comprising sheet-engaging means for delivering consecutive sections of sheet material from a stack, conveyor means positioned to advance a succession of spaced sections from said sheet-engaging means to a binder, drive means for said conveyor means, variable programming means for preselecting the number of said sections in a book, said programming means including counting means synchronized with said drive means for registering the number of sections passing a predetermined location along said conveyor means, and mechanism responsive to said counting means for transmitting an operating signal to said binder upon the count of said sections reaching a preselected value preparatorily to the starting of a new count, said mechanism including delay means for rendering said signal effective a predetermined period after the start of said new count.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,644,192 Kast Oct. 4, 1927 1,738,180 Frazier Dec. 3, 1929 2,076,996 Kleinschmet et al Apr. 13, 1937 2,366,064 Sieb Dec. 26, 1944 2,445,636 Rubedge et a1 July 20, 1948 2,845,264 Faeber July 29, 1958 2,892,627 Newhouse June 30, 1959 2,933,312 Hepp Apr. 19, 1960 2,991,996 Kaye July 11, 1961 

1. A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A MACHINE HAVING SHEET-ENGAGING MEANS FOR DELIVERING CONSECUTIVE SECTIONS OF SHEET MATERIAL FROM A STACK THEREOF TO A BINDER, COMPRISING CONVEYOR MEANS POSITIONED TO RECEIVE A SERIES OF SAID SECTIONS FROM SAID SHEET-ENGAGING MEANS, DRIVE MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID CONVEYOR MEANS TO SAID BINDER, COUNTING MEANS SYNCHRONIZED WITH SAID DRIVE MEANS FOR REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF SECTIONS PASSING A PREDETERMINED LOCATION ALONG SAID CONVEYOR MEANS, AND MECHANISM RESPONSIVE TO SAID COUNTING MEANS FOR MODIFYING THE OPERATION OF SAID MACHINE UPON THE COUNT OF SAID SECTIONS REACHING A PREDETERMINED VALUE, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING DEACTIVATING MEANS FOR SAID SHEET-ENGAGING MEANS EFFECTIVE DURING AN INTERVAL SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDING TO THE TIME OF MOVEMENT OF A SECTION PAST SAID LOCATION WHEREBY A BLANK CYCLE IS CREATED IN THE OPERATION OF SAID COUNTING MEANS. 